Loop antenna



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,400

L. L. MANLEY LOOP ANTENNA Filed March 14. 1922 j 2 sheets-sheet 1vweutoz LEE L. MA N LET QMMWOQQ %a W Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE LINCOLN OF AMERICA, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

L001? ANTENNA.

Application filed March 14, 1922. Serial No. 543,611.

The present invention relates to antennae for receiving radio signalsand more particularly to an improved arrangement for a loop antennaforsmall receiving sets such as are used by amateurs.

For receiving radio telegraphy and telehony loop antennae are convenientespecialwhere the use of overhead wires is objectionable or prohibited.In such cases it is usually desirable to have the loop antenna indoors,particularly when a portable receiving set is being used. The ordinaryconstruction of loop antenna consists-of a number of turns of wiremounted on a frame and is quite l6 heavy and bulky and does not presenta good appearance when used in a home or auditorium. It also cannot bereadily set up, taken down or stored away as is desirable and thereforethis has to a certain extent hindered the introduction in certaininstances of apparatus for receiving radio telegraphy and telephony,such as broadcasting re ceivers.

The object of the invention is to provide 2 a loop antenna constructionwhich avoids the diificulties set forth and which is also inexpensive tomanufacture.

In accordance with the invention, the turn or turns of wire comprisingthe loop antenna are attached to a flexible sheet of material so that itmay be rolled up in a convenient compact form. A loop antenna isdirectional and receives best when normal to the wave front of the wavesto be received. To facilitate adjustment a sup-port is pro vided at oneend of the roll having a swivel or pivot so that the antenna may berotated about a vertical axis.

In a particularly convenient embodiment of the invention the structureis mounted somewhat likea window shade and operated in a similar manner.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare particularly set forth in the appended claims, the

invention itself, however, both as to its construction and mode ofoeration, together with further objects and a vantages thereof, will bestbe understood b reference to the 9 following description, ta en inconnection with the-accompanying drawings in which:

HARLEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RADIO CORPORATION Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a construetion 1n accordance with the invention.

Flgs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of modified supporting structures.Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a tion.

In Fi 1 the invention is illustrated in a manner 1n which it may be usedin a. window frame although it will be evident that it may be attachedto a wall orother part of a building for example." The conductor 1forming the loop may be a fine bare or insulated wire 1 sewed orotherwise attached to the sheet or fabric of'a flexible curtain 2 whichis adapted to be wound on a roller 3. One or more turns may be utilizedas desired and these maybe close together near the edge or wound 1nsplral shape of rectangular, circular or other contour. The terminals ofthe loop are brought out at any suitable points, for example, at thebottom of the sheet where they are attached to binding posts 4 and 5fitted in the reinforcing strip -6. If desired one or more intermediateleads may be brought out from the intermediate turns and fastened tobinding posts 8 to facilitate tuning. Anarm further modificaor bracket 9for supporting the roller is hinged for rotation about a vertical axis,the hinge 10 being fastened to the window frame or wall in anyappropriate manner. By this means the plane of the sheet may be turnedthrough substantially 180 so that the plane of the loop may be adjustedto the optimum position for reception of signals from any direction. Ifdesired, a ca-tch'may be utilized for holding the arm in the windowframe or wall,but usually the friction of the hinge will be sufficientto maintain the arm'in any position to which it is adapted. The rollermay be attached to the arm to permit rotation in Variousways, but aconvenient construction as shown utilizes the usual spring roller towhich a window shade is attached having pins 12, 18 fitting into arms14, 15 attached to opposite ends of the bracket. As shown, one of thebrackets 14 is slotted for receiving the flat or stationary pin 12 ofthe roller in order to facilitate removal. The rotating pin 13 is fittedin a circular hole. As the construction of the roller and its supportsis well known, it will be unnecessary to particularly will be noted thatthe arms are both connected to the hinged bracket so that the roller maybe swung around a vertical axis. When not in use the sheet is rolled upthe same-as an ordinary window shade. To put the antenna in service itis merely pulled down, connected to the receiving set and adjusted toany desired plane.

The construction of Fig. 2 is similar to Fig.

1 but has a roller bearing 16 such as used in casters, the of the windowframe or ceiling.

plate 17 being attached to the top Fig. 3 shows a diflerent type ofhinge in which the pin 18 projecting from the window frame fits in asocket 19 attached to the rotatable arm. A catch such as the pin 20 andsocket 21 is also provided for holding the lower end when the loop ispulled down so that the sheet is eld more or less fixed along one edge.

y In some instances it may be convenient to, eliminate the leads fromthe-bottom of the shade and to provide permanent connections from theloop to the receiving set. This may be accomplished for example, byhaving the leads extend from the roller end instead of the other edges.This may be done'in various ways, for example, with the ordinary shadeas shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In Fig. lthe.

insulated bearing. Another binding post 27 is electrically connected tothe bracket. Electrical connection from the other end of the loopgto thebinding post 27 will be made in the following manner using anordinaryshade roller. The metal cap 23 is electrically connected to theend ofthe loop. When the shade is not being drawn up or down the cap iselectrically connected to the slotted bearing of the arm 14 through therectangulartip 12 and the cam 28- forming a part thereof contacts withthe dog 29 which is fastened by the pivot pin 30 to a disk of metal 31fitting in the cap. This arrangement permits the antenna to be rol ed uin the same manner as Fig. 1 and withoutt e necessity of providingconspicuous leads to the detector.

Obviously the roller may be located at or near the floor and the freeend drawn up in order to spread the loop.

Only 90 adjustment is required to place the loop normally to any wavefront and therefore the vertical axis ma be placed in a corner ifdesired instead 0 in a position where 180 rotation is permitted.

In the description the window shade types have been particularlydescribed although all of the features thereof need not be utilizeddescribe these details although it .arm attached to one I sheet and theconductor into and various modifications may be madewithout departingfrom the spirit of the invention. Having described my invention, what 'Iclaim is:

1. A loop antenna construction comprising a coiled conductor and asupport in the form of a sheet of flexible material having its surfacedisposed in an optimum plane for desired reception, said coilbeingmounted in the plane and within the marginal lines of said sheet. a

2. A loop antenna construction comprisin a coiled conductor consistingof a number 0 turns and a support for said conductor in the form of asheet of flexible material surface disposed in an optimum siredreception said conductorbemg mounted in the plane and within themarginal lines of said sheet and the turns being maintained in spacedrelation thereby. 3..An antenna construction comprising a support in theform of a having its" plane for de-' sheet of flexible materlal adaptedto be disposed in an optimum plane for desired reception, a wire likeconductor mounted in the plane and within the marginal lines of theflexible material and a roller attached to said sheet and-ada ted tohave said sheet and-conductor wound t ereon.

4. A loop antenna construction com rising a support In the form of asheet of flexible material adapted to be disposed in an optimum planefor desired reception a coiled conductor mountedinithe plane and withinthe marginal lines of said sheet and conductor wound thereon.

v sheet and a roller attached to said sheet and adapted to have saidice5. A loop antenna construction comprising a support in the form of asheet of flexible material adapted to be disposed in an optimum planefor desired reception, a coiled conductor mounted in the lane and withinthe marginal lilies of said s eet and a roller'attached to one edge ofsaid sheetada ted to have said sheet and conductor wound t ereon.

6. A loop antenna construction com risin an antenna support in the formof a s met 0 flexible material adapted to be disposed in an optimumplane for desired reception, an antenna conductor mounted in the planeand within the marginal lines of said edge of said sheet and a swivel atone end of the arm to permit rotation of the sheet and thereto.

7 v A loop antenna -construction a support in' the form of a'sheet offlexible material adapted to-be disposed in an'opti mum plane fordesired reception, an antenna conductor mounted in the plane andwithinthe-marginal lines taehed to said sheet and ada ted to have said sheetand conductor woun thereon and a swivel at one end of the roller forrotating the diiferentplanes.

sheet, .an

the conductor attached comprising,

p of said sheet, a roller at-' 8. A100 antenna construction com rising.a support 1n the form of a sheet of exible material adapted to bedisposed in an optimum plane for desired reception, a conductor mountedin the plane and within the marginal lines of said sheet, a rollerattached to one i edge of said sheet adapted to have said sheet andconductor wound thereon and a swivel for said roller having a verticalaxis for rotating the sheet and conductor into different verticalplanes.

9. A'loop antenna construction comprising a support 1n the form of asheet of flexible material ada ted to be disposed in an optimum plane ordesired reception, a coiled conductor mounted in the plane and withinthe marginal lines of said sheet, a roller attached to one edge of saidsheet adapted to have said sheet and conductor wound thereon, a bracketfor supporting said roller and a swivel connected to said bracket forrotat ng the sheet in different planes.

10. A loop antenna construction comprising asupport 111 the form, of asheet of flexible material, adapted to be disposed 1n an optimum planefor desired reception, a conductor mounted in the plane and within themarginal lines of said sheet, a spring roller attached to one edge ofsaid sheet, said sheet and conductor being adapted to be rolled on andoff said roller under the action of the spring. v 0

11. A loop antenna construction comprising a support in the form of asheet of flexible material adapted to be disposed in an optimum planefor desired reception, a conductor mounted in the plane and within themarginal lines of said sheet, a spring roller attached to one edge ofsaid sheet, said sheet and conductor being adapted to be rolled on andoff sa1d roller under the action of the spring and a support for saidroller. 12. A loop antenna construction comprisin a support in the formof a sheet of flexib e material adapted to be disposed in an optimumplane for desired recept1on, a conductor mounted in the plane and withinthemarginal lines of said'sh'eet, a sprin roller attached to one edge ofsaid sheet, said sheet and conductor being adapted to be rolled on andoff said roller under the action of the spring, a support for saidroller and a pivot for said support. v

13. An antenna constructioncompnsmg a support in the form-of a sheet offlexible mav terial adapted to be disposed in an optimum plane fordesired reception, a conductor mounted in the plane and within themarginal lines of said sheet, a spring roller attached to one edge ofsaid sheet, said sheet and conduc-.

tor be1n adapted to be rolled on and'ofi of said rol er under the actionof the s ring, a support for said roller and a pivot $01 said supportlocated at one end thereof.

14. An antenna construction comprising a support in the form of a sheetof flexible ma-. terial, adapted to be disposed in an optimum plane fordesired reception, a conductor mounted in the plane and within themarginal lines of said sheet, a spring roller attached to one edge ofsaid sheet, said sheet and con-- ductor being adapted to be rolled onand ofl said roller under the action of said spring, a support for saidroller, and a pivot for said support, said pivot being disposed so thatthe .sheet is rotatable into different vertical planes. 15. A loopantenna construction comprismg a su mum plane for desired rece tion, aconductor mounted in the plane and within the marginal pport in the formof a sheet of flexible. materia adapted to be disposed in an optilinesof said sheet, a roller attached to one edge of said sheet, a pivot forsaid roller and leads connected to the end of said coiled conductorextending to terminals attached to the edge of said sheet which islocated on the ed e opposite that which is attached to the rol er.

16. An antenna comprising'a su port in the form of a flat sheet offlexible fa ric, and an antenna conductor secured to said sheet andconformed to provide a plurality of turns which are maintained in spacedrelation and in substantially the same plane by said fabric,

said fabric with the conductor secured thereto 7 LEE LINCOLNMANLEY.

